No, the NYT Ethicist should not grant permission/absolution to this person who intends to work for a law firm to help oil companies but doesn't want to feel bad about it.
Normally I wouldn't link to a piece like this, but the context is important, so: nytimes.com/2022/09/06/mag…
I say context is important because it is important to understand this person attends an elite law school. They have other well-paying options.
In many respects, the failure of Waxman-Markey 13 years ago was the beginning of my career in climate policy. Its failure has colored everything about my approach.
What will this bill mean for people just entering the climate space today? I'll be reflecting on this today here.
I was ABD in philosophy, had decided to quit and work on climate, and choosing a law school. I did not for a moment consider attempting to work on Capitol Hill and never have since. I got as far away as I could, and chose Stanford.
Aug 7, 2022 • 4 tweets • 1 min read
Sorry I'm an idiot who doesn't know Senate procedure. Does this mean the bill passed? It sounds like it means the bill moved closer to passing? Can a smart person tell me what's going on?
People keep using words like "advance" -- that means it's not passed yet, right?
Jul 24, 2022 • 5 tweets • 1 min read
I think it is nice that some of you want to "get out of your bubbles" and "spend time with people with other political beliefs," but those of us who worked hard to escape those conditions and people don't need to hear about how refreshing it is or how it is the key to "healing."
You talked to some people about solar panels saving money and they were polite about it? That's great. Maybe they will think you are a "good one" and won't report you when the Black Shirts come rounding up climate activists.
Jul 24, 2022 • 4 tweets • 1 min read
I forget where I read somewhere on here that the Ivies et al should be ashamed of their low acceptance rate and huge endowment when they could spend the endowment to grow and accept more students and like:
When you have something good and more people want it and you can provide more of it, it is kind of common sense to just go ahead and provide more
Jul 23, 2022 • 5 tweets • 1 min read
Shoutout to @isevier for helping me with some heavy lifting despite my baby being unreasonable
If you would like to terrify a baby too, please visit, friends
Jul 21, 2022 • 9 tweets • 4 min read
Heya folks I know it is July -- a sleepy time for Sacramento with 100º+ temps and the legislature on recess, but for the @NextGen_Policy#Climate100 team, IT IS TOO HOT TO SLEEP 🌞🔥💰🌴💃🕺
Instead of lounging at the beach in a photo accompanying a story about deadly extreme heat, we have been busy working to mobilize every part of CA's budget towards climate action.
May 29, 2022 • 8 tweets • 2 min read
It's been three fucking weeks. Is this a scheduled feature or something?
You see bc he has never before been in a state of mind where he is thinking about his grandkids. Like, he's just a shitty grandpa.
May 9, 2022 • 5 tweets • 1 min read
It's been around for a while, but the "environmentalists are the real enemies of climate progress" meme from for-profit cleantech folks has hit a new level recently.
I take this as a sign that their industry has reached maturity and no longer needs free help from non-profits.
Fun fact: virtually no solar company even had a public affairs dept until like 2017. All of it -- *all* -- was done for free by non-profits who just happen to give a shit and don't care if someone else gets rich.
Jan 24, 2022 • 5 tweets • 1 min read
There may be good reasons for pairing rebates/dividends with carbon prices, but political popularity isn't one of them. volts.wtf/p/do-dividends…
Pretty sure that once you start, you can never stop, though.
Oct 21, 2021 • 7 tweets • 2 min read
One of the problems with the relentless "positive messages only" policy enforced within the clean energy community (as opposed to the broader climate community) is that people think renewables have won when they've really just started to gain some ground.
It's hard to sell "we need to do much much more" when the tenor of the room is "fossil is dead!" Fossil is still the biggest game in town. Glossing over that doesn't help.
Oct 20, 2021 • 5 tweets • 1 min read
I listen to audiobooks while I do various projects like paint a room or build ikea furniture and as a cool side effect I know synesthetically associate my baby's dresser with the new Sally Rooney and her wall color with Perdido Street Station.
She has this little butterfly toy with spotted wings and I can't ever see it without thinking of PSS. This makes me very happy.
Jun 13, 2021 • 4 tweets • 1 min read
I don't know how anyone can look at this situation without concluding that a good number of Dems -- not just Manchin and Sinema -- don't actually support core Dem priorities.
In which case, the question is not, "how to convince them this is right," but rather "how to motivate them to do the right thing despite their inclination." That means they must fear the consequences of failing to do so.
Jun 12, 2021 • 5 tweets • 1 min read
I know it is forbidden for an environmentalist to give a shit about driving a species extinct for its own sake, without saying "what I care about is people!" loudly many times first, but like: can we also please try to not drive species extinct?
I've always been deeply uncomfortable with the "people not polar bears" mandate in climate comms.
Apr 13, 2021 • 4 tweets • 1 min read
Please don't make me regret posting this, but: what policy solution do advocates have in mind for extending the life of nuclear plants currently slated to close?
This is a good faith question asked in a spirit of genuine curiosity. Don't fuck it up.
